Fantasy Upside
Christian McCaffrey only ran for 435 yards as a rookie last season, but he caught 80 passes as well. Only LeVeon Bell and Alvin Kamara caught more balls at the running back position! McCaffrey found the end zone seven times as well, and he should remain a focal point of the Panthers offense. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner hasn’t had such a versatile threat at the position since his days in San Diego, but he’ll look to get McCaffrey the ball in space as often as possible.
Fantasy Downside
McCaffrey is unlikely to increase his workload in the running game by much, and he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last season—despite being drafted as a playmaker out of Stanford. Free agent signee C.J. Anderson will likely vie for touches on first and second down, keeping McCaffrey fresh for change-of-pace and passing-down work.
2018 Bottom Line
Despite a lack of elite production in the run game, McCaffrey should continue to be a borderline RB1 in fantasy leagues, particularly in PPR formats. He’ll continue to be a big part of the passing game and his role should continue to expand as his comfort level on the team grows during his second season. Even if he repeats his numbers from last season, he’ll be worth considering at his late-second/early-third-round ADP.